d for July 18-21 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Hu was asked by reporters Wednesday whether he will take his wife Shirley Shao -- who lost her left forearm in a car accident in November last year -- so that she can have a prosthetic arm fitted for her by American experts.
The mayor said he was not sure whether his wife's health would be up to the rigors of a trip in July.
"If I cannot take her to the United States in July, I will probably wait until October or November to do so," he added.
According to Hu, doctors have suggested that if Shao only wants a cosmetic prosthetic, the job can be done in Taiwan. But if she wants an electronic arm that can function almost like a natural one, the mayor should take her to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for more information on such devices.
The mayor acknowledged that Shao's doctors are divided on whether she should be fitted with a cosmetic or an electronic arm, with some saying a cosmetic arm should do just fine because the left arm is not used frequently, while others recommended an electronic arm.
Hu said he is still undecided about the matter, although he expressed worry that the weight of an electronic arm might be too heavy for his wife, who has a slender build. Shao is still undergoing rehabilitation at present. She not only lost her arm but also suffered serious injuries to her face Nov. 18 when the vehicle in which she was traveling overturned in Tainan County, southern Taiwan.
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